Projecting-figure toy



June 1929. G. w. TARKINGTON 1.715.798

PROJECTING FIGURE TOY Filed Nov. 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

1 iwrymw M Q June 4, 1929. a. w. TARKINGTON 1.715.798

PROJECTING FIGURE TOY Filed Nov. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 29 3o :4. MI [I IIIHIML.

15W INVENTOR.

A B ATTORNEY.

Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. TARKINGTON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PROJECTING-FIGURE TOY.

Application filed November This invention relates to toys and its object is to provide a mechanical toy which in operation simulates the action of a foot-ball player kicking the ball toward a goal.'

Another object is to provide in a toy of the above described character a movable figure resembling a foot ball player, a ball and a collapsible goal-post.

An embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings in the several views of which like parts are similarly designated and in which Figure 1 represents an elevation of the figure-element of the toy in its normal position ready for operation,

Figure 2, outline views of the fi ure element showing in full lines and in bro en lines different positions assumed by the movable members of the element in the operation of the toy,

Figure 3, an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of the figure element,

Figure 4, an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing adjoining portions of the stationary leg-member and the relatively movable torso-member of the toy,

Figure 5, a front elevation of the figure element lookingin the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1,

Figure 6, a perspective view of the figure element o'f'the toy,

Figure 7, a perspective view of the goalelement of the toy,

Figure 8, a perspective View of a portion of the goal-element drawn to a larger scale, and

Figure 9, an elevation of the goal-element in a folded condition.

The figure element of the toy is made preferably of sheet metal to resemble a foot ball player in conventional clothes and helmet. It comprises a stationary le 5 supported on a base 6, a movable leg mem er 7 and a torso member 8 pivoted as at 9 on the stationary leg member to move about a common axis, and a lever member 10 fulcrumed in a bearing 12 on the base and having two substantially parallel arms 10' and 10 one of which is connected to the movable leg member at a point 11 spaced laterally from its pivotal axis, by means of a rod 13.

The torso member has two forwardly extending arms 14 the hands of which are spread apart to grasp a ball 15 between them, the s ace between thehands being slightly less tlian the diameter of the ball so that the 9, 1926. Serial No. 147,248.

latter may be held in place by the inherent resiliency of the metal of which the arms are made. The torso-member is rounded at its lower edge below the pivot point and it has projecting from said edge, a lug 16 adapted to engage with a stop 17 on the stationary leg-member to limit the forward movement of the torso in the operation of the toy.

The movable leg-membcd has at its upper end an upwardly extending lug 18 which provides a stop for a pin 19 projecting laterally from the torso-member.

In order that the element may be folded in a box of comparatively small proportions, the stationary leg is pivoted as at 20 on a post 21 which is rigidly connected to the base, the leghav'ing two lugs 22 which normally engage opposite edges of the post and which may be disengaged from the same by bending the leg which like the other parts of the figure is inadeof thin metal, away from the post.

With the same purpose in view the arms are mounted on the torso-member so that they may be moved to a position alongside of the same as indicatedin broken lines at 23 in Figure 3. The arms are to this end connected by two pins 24 and 25 which when the armsare in the extended position are in the lower ends of two slots 26 and 27, of the torsomember.

The upper one of these slots extends longitudinally of the torso-member and the lower slot has a portion in alinement with the upper slot, and a curved portion at an angle thereto to provide a bayonet joint by which the arms may be readily adjusted to cit-her of their two positions and firmly fixed in their forwardly extending position.

The goal-element of the toy consists of two normally upright posts 28 supported on feet 29 and connected by a cross bar 30. The construction of the goal permits of the adjustment of the cross bar to vary its height above the surface on which the goal is supported, it also permits of longitudinal expansion and contraction of the cross bar to vary the distance between the posts and itfurthermore provides for folding the goal in a collapsed condition so that it may be stored inthe same box with the figure element and the ball of the toy.

With the above objects in view both the posts and the crossbar of the goal are made of channeled metal, the crossbar bein composed of two telescoping parts, and the feet are made in angle form to provide upwardly extending flanges. Slide-pieces 31 in the channels of the posts are pivotally connected with the flanges of the feet by outwardly projecting cars 32 and slide pieces 33 likewise movable in the channels of the posts,,are pivotally connected with the outer ends of the cross bar by means of bolts or rivets 34. It will be apparent that by these means the goal may be adjusted or folded as hereinbefore described, the position of the posts and the cross bar relative to one of the feet when the device is collapsed, having been shown in Figure 9 of the drawings.

The specific construction of the goal post may be made the subject of an application for patent separate of the present one.

The ball of the toy is preferably made of soft rubber so that it cannot injure the players or damage furniture or other articles in a room in which the toy is operated, and it may be attached to the base by a long string 35 to prevent of its being lost or of its rolling under furniture or in other places where .it is difficult to reach.

The movable leg-member of the figure element which in the operation of the toy strikes the ball after it is released from the arms on the torso-member, is preferably provided with a shin-plate 36 extending over the foot, which insures the contact of the member with the ball and prevents of the ball being cut by the sharp edge of the metal of which the member is made. a

In the operation of the toy, thefigure element and the goal element are placed apart as shown in F lgures 6 and 7, with the figure facing the goal and with the ball held between the outstretched hands of the figure. The player moves the arm 10 of the lever upwardly and thereby moves the movable leg-member rearwardly about its pivot while at the same time the torso-member is moved forwardly by pressure of the lug 18 on the leg-member, on the pin 19. This first position of the two moving members of the figure has been shown in full lines in Figure 2.

The forward movement of the torso-member is arrested by the engagement of its lug 16 with the stop 17 on the stationary leg and the sudden shock incident to this engagement causes the ball to drop from the arms of the member as indicated in broken lines in Figure 2.

Immediately after the lever-arm has been lifted to produce the above described effect, it is moved downwardly to impart a forwardly swinging movement to the movable leg as indicated in broken lines in Figure 2. This forward movement is so sudden that the shin plate 36 on the leg will intercept the ball in its downward movement and further upward movement of the leg will toss the ball away from the figure in the general direction of the goal.

While the leg is moving upwardly its upper edge engages the pin 19 on the torso-member and thereby returns the latter to its original position to be followed by the return movement of the leg member after the ball has been thrown in the manner hereinabove described.

It is a novel and highly interesting feature of the toy that the player can cause the ball to be projected in different directions and to different distances from the figure-element by dexterous manipulation of the lever 10 so that the toy not only affords amusement by the mere projection of a ball by a figure whose movements faithfully simulate the actions of a football player but can also be used in a contest of skill between two or more players.

The toy may also be operated so that the ball is not dropped before being projected but is engaged by the swinging leg-member while being held between the arms of the torso-member.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:.

1. In a toy of the character described, a figure including a fixed leg-member, a swinging leg-member and a torso-member pivoted on the fixed leg-member, arms on the torsomember adapted to clasp a ball between them, a lever-movement for the operation of the toy, connected with the swinging leg-member, means to impart a forward movement to the torso-member by rearward movement of the swinging leg-member, and astop on the fixed leg-member, limiting the movement of the torso-member,

2. In a to of the character described, a figure includmg a fixed leg-member, a swinging leg-member and a torso member pivoted on the fixed leg-member, arms on the'torsomember adapted to clasp a ball between them, a lever-movement for the operation of the toy, connected with the swinging leg-member, separable projections on the swinging leg-member and the torso-member to impart a forward movement to the torso-member by rearward movement of the swinging legmember, and a stop on the fixed leg-member, limiting the movement of the torso-member.

3. In a toy of the character described, a

fi ure including a base, a fixed leg-member adjustably supported thereon, aswinging leg-member and a torso-member pivot-ed on the fixed leg-member, arms on the torso-menr ber adapted to clasp a ball between them, a lever-movement for'the operation of tne toy. connected with the swinging leg-member means to impart a forward movement to the torso-member by rearward movement of the swinging leg-member, and a stop on the fixed leg-member, limiting the movement of the torso-member.

4. A toy comprisin a support, a leg-member and a torso-mem er pivotally mounted thereon, arms on the torso-member adapted to clasp a ball between them. mechanism to impart a swinging motion to the leg-member, and means to effect a forward movement of the torso-member during rearward motion of the leg-member.

5. A toy comprising a support, a leg-member and a torso-member pivotally mounted thereon to move about a common axis, arms on the torso-member adapted to clasp a ball between them, mechanism to impart a swinging motion to the leg-member, and means to effect a forward movement of the torso-member during rearward motion of the leg-memher.

6. A toy comprising a support, a leg-memher and a torso-member pivotally mounted thereon, arms on the torso-member adapted to clasp a ball between them, .mechanism to impart a. swinging motion to the leg-member, means to effect a forward movement of the torso-member during rearward motion of the leg-member, and a stop limiting the movement of the torso-member.

7. A toy comprising a swinging leg-member, a pivoted torso-member having ball-holding means, and mechanism to effect concurrently a rearward motion of the leg-member, and a forward motion of the torso-member.

8. A toy comprising a. swinging leg-member, a pivoted torso-member having ball-holding means, mechanism to effect concurrently a rearward motion of the leg-member, and a forward motion of the torso-member, and a stop limiting the motion of the torsomember.

9. A toy comprising a swinging leg-memher. and a pivoted torso-mmeber having ballholding means, a lever having a crank-connection with the leg-member, and means to impart a limited forward movement to the torso-member by rearward movement of the leg-member.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

GEORGE W. TARKINGTON. 

